Blackhawks select defenseman Artyom Levshunov with second overall pick in 2024 NHL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Presented by Nationwide Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich
LAS VEGAS — The wait is over: With the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks have selected two-way defenseman Artyom Levshunov.
“Finally I’ve been called up,” Levshunov said. “I’ve been waiting for this for 18 years. Finally somewhere. Not somewhere – in Chicago! It feels real now. Now it feels like a dream come true. Now it feels real.”
The Blackhawks scouted Levshunov extensively this offseason, and their love for him grew over time. Levshunov knew the organization liked him, but he wasn’t sure what they were thinking when it came to the second overall pick.
Until now.
“I thought about them because we had a good conversation with them during the season and at the combine,” Levshunov said. “They came to Buffalo and our agency camp, they came to talk to me, we went to lunch. There were a lot of teams, we talked to everyone. But I’m happy that Chicago picked me and I’m happy to be a part of of the Blackhawks.”
Fittingly, Connor Bedard was introduced on stage at The Sphere and announced Levshunov as the roster. Bedard is the cornerstone of the franchise and now the Blackhawks have a potential No. 1 defender to go with him.
“It’ll be cool,” Levshunov said of Bedard. “An unreal player. He was drafted first overall last year. He’s such a good guy. It’ll be fun to play with him.”
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in his preliminary media availability on Thursday that there were “tons” of “really healthy and productive” internal debate about which direction to go. Although he did not say it publicly, it was believed that the discussion was taking place all along between Levshunov and attacking forward Ivan Demidov, and the former won.
Levshunov, 18, had a sensational freshman season at Michigan State, where he collected 35 points (nine goals, 26 assists) in 38 games. The season before, he ranked third among all USHL defensemen with 13 goals and fifth with 42 points in 62 games for the Green Bay Gamblers.
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Levshunov projects to be a top defenseman in the NHL. He also has a right-handed shot, making his package even more attractive.
Off the ice, Levshunov will quickly endear himself to Blackhawks fans. The Belarus native has a unique personality and will likely be a favorite in the locker room.
Levshunov immediately becomes the top prospect in Chicago’s system and is the front-runner among the potential new core on the backend that includes Kevin Korchinski and Alex Vlasic.
“When I woke up all day, I was thinking about the draft, where I’m going to be,” Levshunov said. “It was actually a pretty simple day for me. I mean, not that simple. It was a special day for me, but I just got to the draft and got called up. That’s all. Life goes on, right? The world goes on. I’m so excited to be a part of it again.”
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